- 10 Best Free Photoshop Alternatives in 2018. Edeh Emmanuel Chibuzor-Jan 1, 2018. It’s a user-friendly software that is regarded by many as one of the few powerful Photoshop alternatives available for Mac after the likes of GIMP and the web-based apps like Canva and Pixlr. Seashore is only available for Mac’s Cocoa UI and packs a.
- Top 5 Photoshop Alternatives for Mac. Adobe’s Photoshop software is good – there’s a reason it’s the gold standard in image manipulation – but it comes at a pretty high cost. We’ve put together some of the best Photoshop alternatives out there, and they’re all much cheaper.
- Photoshop Elements is a full-featured photo-editing package, a light version of Adobe’s flagship Photoshop CC. While it lacks certain high-end professional features such as support for four.
- For example, not all free Photoshop alternatives support the Adobe application's default PSD format. Others, meanwhile, will not be able to recognize some multi-layered Photoshop files. Others, meanwhile, will not be able to recognize some multi-layered Photoshop files.
While Photoshop is still the king of hardcore image manipulation, the truth is that, in 2015, there are lots of great alternatives available for Mac OS X. Some are completely free, and others cost money, though they're more affordable than Adobe's subscription-based offering in the long run.
MobiPicks10 Best Free Photoshop Alternatives in 2018
25 years after the first version of Photoshop was released by Adobe, the software has been and is still one of the most widely accepted photo editing software in the market today. That title didn’t come easy, and over the course of those years, competitors sprung up here and there, in a bid to provide individuals with the free alternative to Photoshop. There are tons of Photoshop alternatives available, but just a handful of them are free to use and are as easy to use as Photoshop itself.
For the next few minutes, you’d be treated to a list of 10 of the best free Photoshop alternatives. Don’t forget to let us know your favourite software.
Best Free Photoshop Alternatives
Let’s get started, shall we?
1. GIMP
For many who haven’t tasted the editing power of GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program), they’ll probably continue outsourcing their graphics design and photo editing jobs to individuals who will use this intuitive application to work their magic on those photos. GIMP has been around since the 90s and is one of the few photo editing programs that allows you to make your own changes to its source code and then redistribute your own version for free – Adobe would surely sue you for doing that. GIMP is a cross-platform software that works on Linux, Mac, and Windows. The software provides the user with some of the best high-quality photo manipulation tools and comes in handy when you want to create icons, user interfaces and lots more. There are however a few downsides to this software which though they are negligible, are worth mentioning. They include the lack of user support as well as the fact that it would take quite some time to become used to it.
GIMP Important Details | |
Supported Platforms | Linux, Windows (XP, Vista, 7, 8), Mac OS X (10.6 and above), Sun OpenSolaris, FreeBSD |
Supported photo file formats | TIFF, JPEG GIF, PNG, PSD, TGA, BMP, PCX, XWD, XPM, PIX, CEL, MNG, PPM, PCX |
Price | Free |
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GIMP Download Link | Windows | Mac | Linux |
2. Pixlr
Pixlr is yet another free alternative to Photoshop. Obviously, the software may not be as good as the Photoshop, but it doesn’t make sense to spend $800 on a Photoshop when all you need is just to retouch an image or design something simple. Pixlr is owned by Autodesk, the owners of AutoCAD, so you expect nothing less than quality. It comes with very useful features that ensure you do what needs to be done without spending much of your funds. This free alternative to Photoshop is available for Windows, Mac and Mobile, not forgetting that it is also browser based, so you can work on any internet enabled computer that doesn’t have the software installed on it. The full version, however, costs $15 yearly – it would amount to the price of Photoshop in about 55 years.
Pixlr Important Details | |
Supported Platforms | Android, iOS, Windows, Mac, Web-based |
Supported photo file formats | PNG, JPG, BMP, TIFF, PXD, JPEG, |
Price | Free (Subscription plans available) |
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Cons | It’s not as powerful as Photoshop itself. |
Pixlr Download Link | for Android | for Windows/Mac | Web Tool |
3. Paint.NET
Best Mac For Photoshop 2018
This Windows only Paint.NET software is very similar to the preinstalled Paint software in Windows but is much more advanced than it in many ways. It is one of the few Photoshop alternatives that cannot actually compete with Photoshop if the latter were to be made free. However, it takes care of basic image editing and is less cluttered with tools as is the case in GIMP. Working with Paint.NET is a breeze and would only take a few hours to become very conversant with the software.
Paint.NET Important Details | |
Supported Platforms | Windows |
Supported photo file formats | PNG, JPEG, BMP, GIF, TGA, DDS, and TIFF |
Supported Languages | Chinese (Simplified), Chinese (Traditional), Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Hindi, Hungarian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Lithuanian, Persian, Polish, Portuguese (Brazilian), Portuguese (Portugal), Russian, Spanish & Swedish |
Price | Free |
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Paint.NET Download Link | Get Here |
4. Canva
Canva is an “Amazingly Simple Graphic Design” tool. Canva packs the power of Photoshop as well as a free stock image library that can favorably compete with Shutter Stock into its web-based platform. Wherever you are in the world, designing and editing images on the go is very easy and requires little or no expertise. Just a few hours and you’re already working like a pro – you must have been conversant with a handful of other photo editing tools of course.
Canva Important Details | |
Supported Platforms | Web based tool |
Supported photo file formats | PNG, JPEG, BMP, GIF |
Price | Free ($1 per picture for their custom pictures) |
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Canva Photo Editor Link | HERE |
5. Seashore
Seashore isn’t the seashore along the beach. No. It’s a user-friendly software that is regarded by many as one of the few powerful Photoshop alternatives available for Mac after the likes of GIMP and the web-based apps like Canva and Pixlr. Seashore is only available for Mac’s Cocoa UI and packs a truckload of features that should serve the basic image editing needs of its users who aren’t keen on spending money purchasing Photoshop.
Seashore Important Details | |
Supported Platforms | Mac |
Supported photo file formats | GIMP, TIFF, and GIF |
Price | Free |
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Seashore Download Link | for Mac |
6. Pixelmator
There are quite a few Photoshop alternatives that have the privilege of working with the new MacBook with Touch Bar – even Adobe just released a version of Photoshop that works with the Touch Bar on the new MacBook – so it is imperative to make mention of Pixelmator as a worthy inexpensive substitute for Photoshop. Pixelmator costs just $30 and is strictly available for Mac. If you want to paint, retouch, cut out and do more stuff like creating vector images, then Pixelmator would do just fine in lieu of Photoshop.
Pixelmator Important Details | |
Supported Platforms | Mac, iOS |
Supported photo file formats | PSD, JPEG, TIFF, PNG, WebP, PDF, GIF, BMP, TGA, JPG-2000 |
Price | $29.99 for Mac, $4.99 for iOS |
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Pixelmator Download Link | for Mac | for iOS |
7. PicMonkey
For such a web based free Photoshop alternative, one cannot help but imagine the inspiration behind such a name. The name notwithstanding, PicMonkey is a good image editing tool and an alternative to Photoshop that comes in handy when all you want to do is simply edit an image or two on your browser. It’s however, “too basic” to say the least, unlike its counterparts like Canva, which provide users with tons of great features.
PicMonkey Important Details | |
Supported Platforms | Web tool, iOS, Android |
Supported photo file formats | GIF, JPEG, PNG, PDF, GIF TIFF |
Price | $3.99 per month on yearly plan (free trial available) |
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PicMonkey Download Link | Webtool link | for Android | for iOS |
8. Krita
If you’re a user of the Linux OS and you have been searching the internet for the best Photoshop alternatives, Krita might just be what you’re looking for. Krita is an open source free painting program for professionals using Linux. It’s easy to use and has a flawless GUI through which you can create beautiful illustrations and comics, concept arts as well as texture and matte painters. Krita is also available for Windows and Mac.
Krita Important Details | |
Supported Platforms | Windows, Mac OS, Linux |
Supported photo file formats | PSD, GIF, JPEG, PNG, PDF, GIF TIFF |
Price | Free |
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Krita Download Link | for Windows / Mac / Linux |
9. Adobe Photoshop Express
In a bid to ensure that the number of people looking for free Photoshop alternatives is reduced to the barest minimum, Adobe released the Adobe Photoshop Express which is simply a compilation of all the basic tools available in the main Photoshop software. The Adobe Photoshop Express is a cross-platform software available for Windows PC, Android, iOS, and Windows Phone/Mobile. This free version of Photoshop should satiate your hunger for a Photoshop substitute when you start using it.
Adobe Photoshop Express Important Details | |
Supported Platforms | Windows PC, Android, iOS, and Windows Phone/Mobile |
Supported photo file formats | PSD, PDD, BMP, RLE, DIB, GIF, Camera Raw, JPG, JPE, PSE, PDF, PNG, TIFF, PXR |
Price | Free (In-app purchases) |
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Adobe Photoshop Express Download Link | for Android | for iOS | for Windows |
10. Corel PaintShop Pro X9
The Corel PaintShop Pro X9 wraps up this list of free Photoshop alternatives. This software costs just about $80 and packs some of the awesome features found in the Corel Draw Graphics Suite X8 and Adobe Photoshop into one application. Hence, it is regarded by many as the ultimate photo editing software. What’s more? The software comes with some juicy bonus packs of effects free of charge, even as it allows you to capture your screen. Now that’s one feature image editing apps lack. Sharing the steps on how you created magnificent pieces using the software just got better with its screen recording feature.
Corel PaintShop Pro X9 Important Details | |
Supported Platforms | Microsoft Windows 8/8.1, Windows 7, Windows Vista or Windows XP with latest service packs installed (32-bit or 64-bit editions) |
Supported photo file formats | BMP, CAL, CALS, CLP, CUT, DCX, DIB, EMF, EPS, AI, PS, GIF, HDP, WDP, IFF, IMG, JP2, J2C, J2K, JPC, JPX, JPG, JIF, JPE, JPEG, MAC, MSP, PBM, PCX, PGM, PIC, PPM, PNG, PSD, PSP (PSPIMAGE FILES), RAS, RAW, RIF, RLE, SCT, CT, JPS, PNS, TGA, TIF, TIFF, WBMP, WBM, WEBP, WMF |
Price | USD 80 |
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Corel PaintShop Pro X9 Download Link | HERE |
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Photoshop has set a high standard that many developers of different image editing software have been unable to surpass till date. Instead of spending all your savings on Photoshop, these aforementioned free Photoshop alternatives will do the work to a great extent, to say the least.
Now that Adobe has made Photoshop CC the linchpin of its Creative Cloud subscription strategy, photo enthusiasts are more than ever seeking alternatives to the engine that has driven the modern image-editing industry for more than 20 years.
Subscriptions to Photoshop via Creative Cloud cost $50 per month and are popular with a certain segment of Adobe users, mostly the cadre of commercial artists, graphic designers, Web developers, and photographers who use multiple apps for high-end professional work.
To sweeten the deal for photographers, Adobe is now offering a special photo-oriented subscription package targeted to previous users that includes Photoshop and Lightroom for $10 per month (based on a year’s commitment), until December 31. A similar offer targeting everyone else, regardless of past Photoshop ownership, runs until December 2. The upshot is that for photographers who considered $50 a month excessive for purchasing programs they will not use, there’s a less expensive option available until the end of the year.
But a subscription is still a subscription. And even some Creative Cloud cheerleaders may now be pausing to reconsider this path, especially in light of recent issues with Adobe security. That, added to general consumer opposition to subscription software, may play a role in an accelerated quest for a Photoshop alternative.
Even when Photoshop was available as a perpetual license, the $699 standard edition price tag was steep, as was the $350 upgrade price, though a hefty portion of enthusiasts were willing to fork over that amount for the best image editor money could buy. Adobe continues to sell Photoshop CS6, the last presubscription version.
We poked around and found nine good prospects that would be suitable for most amateurs and photo enthusiasts. Some of those alternatives, not surprisingly, come from Adobe itself, while others emerge from familiar vendors like Apple and Corel, as well as more recent players in the software marketplace. Note that prices can vary, and those below are the latest from the vendor's websites.
Adobe Photoshop Elements 12 ($100)
Photoshop Elements is a full-featured photo-editing package, a light version of Adobe’s flagship Photoshop CC. While it lacks certain high-end professional features such as support for four-color separation, as well as other advanced controls, its price is about 1/7 of the pro version. Photoshop Elements specifically targets hobbyists and advanced amateurs with a consumer oriented approach to image editing, such as Quick, Guided, and Expert modes. Elements ships with an Organizer app (shared with its companion video program, Premiere Elements) that tracks and organizes photos and videos and facilitates creation of artistic projects. Features such as Pet Eye editing (related to red eye in humans), Instagram-style photo effects, textures, auto smart tone, and content aware move make Photoshop Elements a strong contender for hobbyists at all levels.
Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 5 ($149)
Lightroom is a true crossover app that straddles the shifting line between advanced amateur and professional photography. While Lightroom is available via Creative Cloud subscription, it’s also available as a stand-alone license-based application for non-subscription purchase. While primarily a photo manager on par with Apple’s Aperture, Lightroom offers a high degree of editing functionality. Hobbyists with advanced knowledge of editing techniques or who shoot Raw may well find Lightroom an acceptable substitute for Adobe’s high-end editor. Lightroom has an agreeable one-window interface that’s easy to work with. Advanced new features include Upright, which offers four options for straightening images with a mouse click; smart previews for working on images when originals aren’t available; advanced healing brush to correct irregular shapes; and a radial gradient tool that directs the viewer’s focus within an image.
Apple Aperture 3.5 ($80)
Aperture has long been a Mac photo-imaging favorite, on par with Adobe Lightroom. While it bills itself as more photo organizer than editor, like Lightroom, it has a great many image- editing features that hobbyists and enthusiasts can rely on. Newer versions of the app fully support Mac Retina displays and join together the databases of both the Aperture and iPhoto libraries to promote the smooth transition back and forth between the different photo editors. A new white-balance tool, an enhanced shadow-highlight editor, and an improved auto enhance feature balance the app’s concentration on photo editing. Add fast browsing and full-screen operation into the mix alongside integration of Faces, Places, and Photo Stream features, and you get a full set of sharing and syncing options to top off the Aperture package.
Apple iPhoto 9.5 ($15)
More consumer-oriented than Aperture, and simpler to use than Photoshop Elements, iPhoto for Mac is the hub of Apple’s iLife suite. With iPhoto, you can add special effects to images, correct exposure, remove red‑eye, remove unwanted objects, and fix images with an assortment of sophisticated controls. Use effects to convert photos to black and white, add vignettes, blur edges, and more. The photos you take on your iOS devices can automatically appear in iPhoto via Photo Stream, ready for sharing. Slideshow themes enhance the look and sharing options for your photo collection. When you’re done with an iPhoto edit, you can also get something to show for it. Right from the app, you can order professional prints, photo books, cards, and calendars. This 64-bit app shares a unified database with Aperture, which offers even more advanced image-editing opportunities.
Flying Meat Acorn 4.1 ($50)
Acorn caters to photography enthusiasts seeking a wide range of nondestructive image- editing options. This 64-bit, lightweight but full-service image-editing tool offers all the standard features such as text, vector tools, filters, layer masks, compositing, PSD import and export capability, and an array of sophisticated functions that could yank you out of your Photoshop nostalgia. A multilayer editing function that includes layer groups and cool filters accompany Acorn’s smart crop tool and Web export features. Acorn also supports masks, alphas, curves and levels, multistop gradients, and more, and is optimized for Retina displays. All these convenient features are wrapped in an agreeable, easy to use interface.
Pixelmator 3 ($30)
Pixelmator has, over time, filled in many of the missing elements to make it a true Photoshop alternative. As a full-service image editor like Acorn, it offers all the traditional, recognizable tools that most photographers would need to tweak images. It also features a number of special effects that you can choose to make visible or not. Like Acorn, it works only in the RGB color space, but the new version has added Liquify tools and layer styles designed to compete with Photoshop’s famous features. Enhanced multiple-display support offers more flexibility. Add to that a slew of other easy-to-use drag-and-drop and slider-based editing functions such as painting, retouching, shapes, text tools, color adjustments, and 64-bit architecture.
Corel AfterShot Pro ($25)
Corel has aimed AfterShot Pro at the professional playing field alongside Photoshop, Aperture, and Lightroom, as both an image editor and photo manager. It has a great number of photo-editing options as well as organizational features that will give you perspective on new ways to edit your images. A full view of your photo library and various ways of previewing your images help you choose good prospects. An assortment of familiar controls lets you apply levels and curves, sharpening, color cast correction, and a host of other edits to your photos. AfterShot Pro includes selective editing cursors, healing and cloning tools, and the ability to manage multiple versions of a photo. As an image manager, it lets you access photos anywhere on your hard drive without having to import them into the program, which will certainly be advantageous for some workflows.
CyberLink PhotoDirector 5 ($60)
CyberLink, which arrived on the Mac from Windows in the last couple of years, offers a respectable all-purpose image-editing package with lots of cool extras for one-click image editing and styling. A compact, well-organized application frame holds a wealth of information about your photos. A tabbed layout gives you the option of viewing your library, selecting a photo and making manual or preset adjustments—and editing for anything from object removal to beautifying the faces of your subjects, creating a slideshow, or printing. The Auto Lens Correction feature removes barrel and perspective distortions, vignetting, and chromatic aberration—a handy pro-level feature. PhotoDirector is fun to use and has some sophisticated controls that rival Photoshop’s. At the same time, it also has an Instagram sensibility via its collection of built-in and downloadable presets. PhotoDirector offers the best of both worlds.
GIMP 2.8 (Free)
GIMP, short for GNU Image Manipulation Program, is a free, open-source image editor with many of the same deep capabilities as Photoshop. That means it has a dizzying number of controls available to fine-tune and fix your photos, such as the clone tool, the healing tool, channel mixer, in addition to context-sensitive tools, dockable windows, and a full-screen mode. You can also fix lens flaws such as barrel distortion and vignetting. One look at its extensive preferences and menus reveals a setup that Photoshop users might find somewhat familiar. GIMP doesn’t always behave the way you’d expect a Mac app to, for example, sometimes edits paint their way onto the window, as opposed to just smoothly transforming the image. Newer versions of GIMP have become more intuitive, and as a free app, it’s definitely worth a look.